Ruapuna Speedway. Photo: Supplied
Christchurch's Ruapuna Speedway says a full investigation has been launched into a freak accident which left a driver with serious burns.
The crash happened at Ruapuna Speedway on Saturday night.
The rest of the night's scheduled racing was cancelled after the crash.
On its Facebook page, Ruapuna Speedway said the driver suffered burns from fuel igniting during the crash. It said the driver underwent surgery on Sunday night and would be transferred to Auckland's Middlemore Hospital.
He was in a serious but stable condition.
"We have initiated a full investigation into this freak accident to gain a better understanding of what happened. Our thoughts remain with the driver and his family, and we are providing support where possible."
Ruapuna Speedway said if anyone was struggling with what they saw, they should seek help and talk to someone who could offer support.
"Please remember, this was an abnormal accident and not typical of speedway racing. We will provide further updates as more information becomes available."
The post said the driver's family had expressed heartfelt thanks for the support and kind words from friends and the speedway community, and had asked for privacy while they focused on his recovery.
A police spokesperson said any investigation into the incident would likely to be led by WorkSafe.
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